ronniemac

History of the o/s mirror is that it was accidentally damaged and the back was cracked. My pal did a practically invisible glue job to repair it and it was glued back into position on the mirror. The intention was to re-spray it in situ on the door but, as previously mentioned I couldn't get a match locally. In short, as they are glued together, I don't think the mirror and backing are detachable from one another without damage. Sorry, perhaps I should have explained all that when we met. Kind regards Ron

Glad the car is still suiting you and you have certainly brought it up to an immaculate standard - it looks terrific! There can't be much left to do. Hope you will have more luck than I did trying to get a paint match for the o/s mirror. (Nearly painted the n/s one black just for the sake of symmetry - but hope springs eternal as they say). Anyway, all best wishes to you and yours in these troubling times. Ron

Hello Richard Yes the current pictures have restored my faith in you! Previous ones of a dirty looking vehicle and talk of Yorkshire ale were off-putting - you might say. Anyhoo - your adventures with the sound system have been very interesting. The wheels give a distinctive look and set the car up well. Good job. I nearly got in touch with you regarding a 14y.o. IS with 50K on the clock for 1650 GBP (trade) locally. However as I don't have your wealth of lexus expertise and on-hand specialists, I decided I could easily find myself in the same position as with the GS if it didn't live up to expectations. So I am soldiering on with my 12y.o. Micra with 30k on the clock and 40+ to the gallon. Boring but sensible. Regarding the immobiliser time-lag after re-connecting the battery - I'm pretty sure I noted it / mentioned it in the "tips" page in the paper-file I gave you with the car. Best regards Ron

Hello Richard Delighted to hear that Leckie (Scottish diminutive for Alexis) continues to please. It may be as well to bear in mind its quiet previous existence in the Highlands, so exposing it to the vicarious delights of Blackpool Paris is bound to put a strain on various circuits - it would do me. Previously it was treated with a delicately applied breath of WD40 on the antenna and a (very) small nip of uisque beath in the petrol tank for its New year. It aids longevity. I will have a 20yo Macallan single malt as the New Year approaches for that purpose, too. Fortunately my new hip seems to be self-lubricating. Anyway my real purpose is to wish you and your family a Happy New Year and Prosperity In All Your Enterprises in the coming year. Best Wishes Ron

Hello again I am glad you continue to be positive about the car. It had been a wee bit neglected when I got it 5 years ago and the positive terminal connector seemed a bit temperamental, undoing and cleaning seemed to help at the time. Ah well - onwards and upwards as they say. Regards

Hello Richard A hazy memory has come to mind - triggered by kaybie's post - to do with the positive battery terminal connection. It might be worthwhile to disengage and clean the connector coupling as well as the contact with the battery terminal. I would be inclined to put a jumper wire between the terminal and the cable just to maintain the connection while you check the connector - but you probably have a better understanding of 'modern' circuitry. I have been most impressed with the advice and offers of help from other members. As a matter of interest, were the fault codes found by way of the specialised Lexus OBD socket or was it a better reader than is available to us mere mortals or both? Hope the above helps. Ron

Delighted to hear that the car behaved well on its journey south and it was a pleasure to meet you and your good lady wife. Glad, too that the bacon (and HP sauce!) roll met with approval. A Soarer is hard to resist - you may have to take up Dad's offer of storage - pass on my regards to a contemporary. Take care Ron

Hello John I, too, have a 51Reg GS300 - not quite so many miles at 124K - and found your article most interesting. I note that you have a 'smooth' boot lid whereas my car has a wing attached to it. I wonder if this is an original item, a variation or a later addition and would be grateful for any advice. I would quite like to have it removed as the line of your car looks much more sleek. Regards Ron

Delighted to hear of your enjoyable trip round this part of the Highlands. We Lexus owners are a wee bit thin on the ground and so I was pleased to see a well presented GS450 in Morrisons car park in Inverness. Perhaps mine was the GS300 you came across in your travels. A small point - I think the distillery you mention is as you come into Forres - a few miles further on than Nairn. Anyway - Haste ye back and enjoy the product. Slainthe!

I got a s/s back system made for my 2002 GS300 by a guy in Elgin last year. £900 or else leaky exhaust - no contest! See photo attached for general interest.

RIMTECH has refurbished all 5 wheels (£377) and they look very good. As mentioned above the tyre pressure loss is remedied now - that's a relief! The centre caps are looking quite tired in comparison to the rest of the wheel. The replacements I got on e-bay are a correct fit but the external diameter is much less than the original. Is it possible to get a set with a 72mm 'face'? Alternatively has anyone experience in refurbishing the originals? I would like to spray them to match the wheels but am concerned that I would damage the metallic Lexus motif in removing over paint with thinners. I don't see a practical way of making masks for the motif. I'm too old and shaky to try a paint brush! So, it's 'old dog and new tricks' scenario - any advice will be gratefully received.

I have approached RIMTECH up here and have had the whole one day bath/blast/coat/bake/seal process explained. Price seems standard at £240 plus VAT for four wheels. Still waiting for our really bad winter weather so I will put off for a month or so. Thanks for all the helpful comments on this topic Regards to all.

Thank you, Alan. I will check that out. Regards

The 17" wheels on my 51 registered GS300 are presentable but I, also, have trouble keeping tyre pressure (35psi) up to the mark on 2 of the wheels. The tyres have been removed and fixative replaced but the problem persists. Can you advise, please, if refurbishing and powder coating would be likely to cure the loss of pressure? The Avon tyres were fitted new in May 2015 and have done under 5000 miles.

Hello Colin It was kind of you to take on these puzzles so promptly. Regarding the radio - I was 'thrown' because the frequencies still showed against each preset although no audio. I have done a manual tune as you suggested and re-allocated the preset 'buttons'. All is now well, thankyou. Regards